Connor, here is your statement again:
I think it has much more to do with the fact that Europeans know that Russia would ultimately take revenge while the United States will ultimately just take it. Europeans aren't stupid - they know protesting the United States will not have any serious long-term negative consequences for them. Russia on the other hand...
This was not a statement of "gosh, I'd just like to see the Europeans protesting".
Niner, you are reading something into this that is just not there. Look, I wrote that in reponse to what you wrote:
Maybe the Europeans learned in 2003 that protests against major powers invading weaker countries don't have much effect. But you never know.
So you gave an explanation, and in response I provided an alternative explanation (as you quoted above.) This is simply a natural continuation of the dialog. Now honestly, does this really seem all that sinister to you?
Yes, it does. Especially when combined with your response to my initial post:
Very clever. Do you think they'll just hang out in coffee shops drinking espresso when the U.S. or Israel bombs Iran? Seems pretty unlikely.
The point you seem to have been making is that the Europeans will only protest when the US or Israel invades another country, but will allow Russia to invade as it pleases, and further that this is due to a combination of US wimpiness and Russian belligerence. (Russia will "take revenge" while US will "just take it") Is that an accurate assessment so far? If it had not been for the creepy revenge/take it comment, I would have interpreted this as simply a commentary about some sort of perceived European anti-Americanism, but you instead seem to be portraying the Europeans as rational actors who are responding to the "consequences" of their protests. As such, it was my assumption that you would like the US to apply similar "consequences" as you believe the Russians would, so that we would get the political outcome you seem to prefer, for, say, a future attack on Iran. While I feel that this assumption was a logical extension of what you've written, I will take your word that you don't really want the US to apply any sort of pressure on Europe as punishment for their protests of our next attack on a country that doesn't threaten us. As such, I formally apologize for having made that assumption.
Why, you'd think I was calling people names or something.
Let's see, accusing me of wanting to bomb Europe, of being a fascist. Do you seriously think it makes someone feel good to be misrepresented in this manner?
Just for the record, I never accused you of being a fascist. I wondered if you wanted the US to be more fascistic, though I can see where you may have felt hurt by that, so I'm sorry about that.
Anyway, I don't expect you to apologize, though my respect for you would be enhanced tremendously if you did, but I hope you will at least introspect a bit and perhaps consider making an effort to change your behavior. I am not the enemy just because my political views differ slightly from your own.
Interesting you should mention that you aren't the enemy. There is a widespread view on the right which holds that anyone on the left, which in this view includes virtually all Democrats, is in fact the enemy, and is responsible for all that is wrong in our society. They often erroneously equate Democrats with Marxists, Communists, or Socialists. I've seen this point of view in the real world, and I've seen it here. It is ugly and divisive and wrong, it's wrecking our country, and I intend to stand up against it. Approximately half your posts at ImmInst have been right wing partisan in nature. Some of them have made you sound a lot like the people who think all Democrats are the enemy. It's those sort of posts that have drawn responses from me. Maybe you aren't really that way, and if I've misidentified you, again I'm sorry. While we're on the subject of being introspective and making an effort to change our behavior, I hope that you will consider the effects of partisan humor on others who may not find it so funny. Instead of attacking political candidates, consider telling us why we should vote for your guy.
